Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the controversial history of Fireflies, a leading AI note-taking company, revealing that in its early days, the company relied on manual note-taking rather than actual AI technology, raising concerns about privacy and trust in AI applications [2][7][21]. Group 1: Company Background - Fireflies, a top AI meeting assistant, has achieved a valuation of $1 billion and serves over 500,000 organizations, including 75% of Fortune 500 companies [5][36]. - The company has experienced rapid growth, with its user base increasing eightfold in the past 18 months, making it one of the fastest-growing AI applications globally [35]. Group 2: Early Operations - In its initial phase, Fireflies' founders manually took notes during meetings, presenting themselves as an AI service to clients, which they later admitted to be a strategy to save on development costs [10][14][17]. - The founders participated in over 100 meetings, often struggling to stay awake, while they manually transcribed notes and sent them to clients shortly after [18][19]. Group 3: Privacy and Trust Issues - The revelation of manual note-taking has sparked significant backlash, with critics highlighting the potential privacy violations and the ethical implications of having humans listen in on confidential meetings [23][27]. - Concerns have been raised about the trustworthiness of Fireflies, as clients expect AI-driven solutions rather than human involvement in sensitive discussions [26][28]. Group 4: Current Operations and Future Outlook - Fireflies has since transitioned to fully automated note-taking since 2017, addressing earlier concerns about privacy and manual participation [28][39]. - The company has achieved profitability since 2023 without relying on new funding, indicating a sustainable business model that contrasts with many other AI startups [44][45].